Stand Firm in Your Faith
Written By: Vittoria Valentini
I graduated high school in May as Student Body President, and now I find myself exploring all that the first year of college has to offer. It's an adjustment which brings lots of good, such as making new friends, trying new clubs, being independent, and having a fresh start, but it also calls for some necessary strengthening of my moral compass.
Being a Christian, specifically a Catholic, is hard when drinking, sex, and drugs are the only past times that seem to be glorified in college. My college is a great university; however, it has a reputation of partying and being filled with individuals participating in inappropriate behavior, like any large college, I assume.
Many of my peers were excited to try these things. Some might even be pressured into participating in them because their foundational morals may not be strong enough to say, “No”. This leads the people around me to be convinced that, to be “cool,” you have to have sex and get drunk.
This leaves me thinking, where do I go from here? I want to have fun without doing things I don't agree with or making decisions that do not glorify God.
By having sex and drinking, my peers might think they are being more mature. However, I wish they would read the verse from Ephesians 4:14 (NIV) which states, “We will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.” This verse reminds me to focus on growing spiritually in order to avoid being misled by earthly desires.
I look to my guiding moral compass, God, to see that in a room full of people drinking, I can remember Ephesians 5:18 (NIV) which states, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Instead of filling my cup with alcohol, I fill it up with the goodness of the Lord to nourish my body and not to poison it.
When being around peers I don’t necessarily agree with, I have to stay strong in my morals and values, not giving into temptation.
If you feel you are filling your cup with worldly pleasures, I urge you to not forget about filling your spiritual cup with the abundance of God’s love and guidance He graciously offers to us.
Whether you're struggling to find a like-minded community, as I am, or attempting not to settle for less than you deserve, hear God’s voice and remember, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV).
Next time you're in a situation where you feel compelled to conform to the people around you, be strong in your convictions, be strong in your morals, do not give into others, and do not give up on God’s plan for you for HE is what satisfies. <3
Vittoria Valentini graduated from her high school as Student Body President. She is currently studying Sports Business with aspirations of working in Sports Broadcasting post-graduation. She attends church regularly and is a part of the Catholic Newman Center at her college.
